Students heading back to class this fall at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) have more cost-saving options than ever before.
Since launching Canada’s first zero textbook cost (ZTC) initiative in 2018, KPU has grown its offering of courses that carry no textbook fees. Now with more than 1,000 ZTC course sections available each term, 17 entire programs at KPU can be completed without buying a textbook.
“KPU is deeply committed to open education practices that remove barriers and create more equitable access to learning. We continue to partner with faculty to develop open educational resources, and as a result, KPU now offers more zero textbook cost course sections and credential pathways to support learners in their journey,” says Leeann Waddington, Associate Vice-President, Teaching and Learning at KPU.
The newest programs available with all-ZTC courses include the Certificate in Computer Aided Design and Drafting, Diploma in Fine Arts, English Minor and Bachelor of Arts, Major in History.
As ZTC programs grow, so do the number of instructors using alternative course learning materials. Faculty are adapting free open education resources (OER), curating library materials and developing custom content tailored to their students’ needs. KPU instructors are also publishing OERs of their own.
“Open educational resources do more than reduce costs for students, they create opportunities for more inclusive, accessible and relevant learning. Unlike traditional textbooks, open resources can be customized to reflect different learning needs and perspectives, and faculty can incorporate new case studies and tailor content to their students. That flexibility helps create a richer educational experience,” says Waddington.
Last year, KPU faculty published 10 OERs, including the Open Encyclopedia of South Asia by KPU history instructor Dr. Robert Menzies. Articles on the website are student assignments created for South Asian history and Asian studies classes, published with permission from students.
“This idea first emerged nearly a decade ago through conversations among faculty. We have issues with the price of textbooks and we have all used additional readings to augment the textbooks anyway. It seemed logical to create something that would be more clearly bespoke for KPU students,” he says.
“The idea is to eventually develop a set of student-generated encyclopedia entries and structure it sort of like a KPU version of Wikipedia. It would be a living document with specific entries on people and events, and it could be used instead of, or in addition to, commercial textbooks.”
Menzies says making such resources available to everyone democratizes education and reduces costs. It can also be used as a pedagogical tool, he adds.
Although 17 credentials are currently available through ZTC courses at KPU, students may see some variation in which courses are available in a given semester.
“The decision to use open educational resources is made by individual instructors, so the availability of ZTC courses can vary from term to term,” says Waddington. “To help students, courses with the ZTC designation are clearly identified during registration, making it easy to find and choose courses that do not require the purchase of a textbook. This can be especially helpful when selecting electives, where students often have multiple course options.”
KPU also offers courses with low textbook cost (LTC). LTC courses, which are identified during course registration, ensure students pay no more than $40 for all required instructional materials.
